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Michelle Bliss

News

Michelle moved to the Silver State from North Carolina where she led the award-winning public radio newsroom in Wilmington. During her time down South, Michelle earned two regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her coverage of local politics and the water contamination scandal at Camp Lejeune. She also completed her master's degree in creative writing from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

When she's not covering a local story, Michelle is often working on other nonfiction writing projects, which have appeared in literary journals like River Teeth and Ninth Letter. Outside of writing, Michelle enjoys watching Hokie football games, eating at diners, and hiking with her husband Scott and their three pups: Katie, Cooper, and Mosey. In April of 2014, Michelle and Scott welcomed a new addition to the Bliss family: a baby girl!

Pages

Local Stories

12:51 pm

Fri March 27, 2015

The Wolf Pack men's basketball team has a new head coach. Reno Public Radio's Esther Ciammachilli has the story.

Eric Musselman, a two-time NBA head coach, was officially named the new head coach Thursday. The Board of Regents for the Nevada System of Higher Education approved a five-year contract worth $2 million.

Musselman spent the 2010-2011 season coaching the Bighorns in Reno; that team is part of the NBA's D-League. Since then, he's been an assistant coach for Arizona State and, most recently, the LSU Tigers, helping them make it to the NCAA tournament this season.

Politics and Policy

12:45 pm

Fri March 27, 2015

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid is backing New York Sen. Chuck Schumer to succeed him as Democratic leader. Reno Public Radio's Michelle Bliss reports that Reid issued his endorsement Friday morning, shortly after announcing he will retire next year instead of running for re-election.

Reid was first elected to the Senate almost thirty years ago.

Reid said he wants to make sure Democrats regain control of the Senate next year and that it would be "inappropriate" for him to soak up campaign resources when he could be focusing on putting the Democrats back in power.

Politics and Policy

5:06 pm

Wed March 25, 2015

With more than 20 Republican lawmakers supporting AB148, which would allow concealed firearms on college campuses, many at the University of Nevada, Reno worry they could see guns at school, soon. That’s why 200 protestors gathered there Wednesday. Reno Public Radio’s Michelle Bliss reports.

The group chanted in front of the library before a dozen speakers made their case.

“The great majority of faculty on this campus do not want legislation to ease weapon restrictions on this campus," said UNR Faculty Senate Chair Chuck Price.

With the number of young people using e-cigarettes growing nationwide, the Washoe County Health District released a position statement this week calling on the state legislature to set up some ground rules.

Politics and Policy

10:53 am

Wed March 25, 2015

In reviewing what happened before and during the Sparks Middle School shooting in 2013, emergency management and education officials have learned a lot. That's what Democratic Assemblywoman Teresa Benitez-Thompson said during her testimony this week for a bill to update safety procedures in Nevada schools based on lessons learned at Sparks. Reno Public Radio's Michelle Bliss reports.

Local Stories

1:32 pm

Mon March 23, 2015

Washoe County voters could see a ballot question asking for more transit funding in the next few years. Reno Public Radio's Michelle Bliss reports.

Public transit in Washoe will see major service cuts by 2019 if the Regional Transportation Commission can't find more money. That's why the RTC created a citizen advisory group to come up with ideas. That group just put together its final recommendations, which include asking voters to approve a 1/8-cent increase to the sales tax.

The Nevada Wolf Pack could have a new men's basketball coach in place by next Thursday. Reno Public Radio's Michelle Bliss reports.

The Board of Regents for the Nevada System of Higher Education is holding a special meeting on Thursday. The agenda for that meeting says UNR President Marc Johnson will request approval for a multi-year employment contract for a new coach.

A national search has been underway since former Coach David Carter was fired earlier this month. Athletic Director Doug Knuth has led that search effort, which has been quite hush-hush.

Fri March 20, 2015

Nevada has the fewest wineries of any state, with just four filling our glasses today. While advocates want to grow the industry, there’s fear that the state could become a mere “suburb” of California wine with few bottles bearing a homegrown stamp. Reno Public Radio’s Michelle Bliss reports.

There are no commercial wineries in Washoe County, but UNR Professor Grant Cramer has been making wine in Reno for a decade.

Business + Economy

5:14 pm

Wed March 18, 2015

Governor Brian Sandoval delivered testimony during a joint committee hearing Wednesday for his plan to increase business license fees in order to raise money for K-12 education. Reno Public Radio's Michelle Bliss reports.

Despite wide support for improving the state's lagging education system, Sandoval is charged with convincing a Republican-controlled legislature to raise taxes for the cause.

In a rousing speech, Sandoval made his case, saying economic development will suffer if the state can't create more revenue and devote it to students.